In light of the growth of e-commerce-and the fact that consumers and businesses are buying again, many of the discussions that we had at ProMat 2015 didn't revolve around the products and the equipment on display as much as it did the supplemental technology and solutions that are designed to optimize systems in an effort to work "smarter."

Collaboration isn't a new concept. What is new is how we collaborate. Innovative technologies such as social collaboration platforms, mobility applications and intelligent analytics and dashboards have become much more prominent within the supply chain. During this webcast we'll explore how combining these innovations with end-to-end supply chain visibility creates a prime opportunity to maximize your manufacturing Supply Chain IQ, enabling you to make better decisions and execute those decisions more quickly and profitably.

The Manufacturing Leadership Council, an executive network designed to define and shape a better future for manufacturers worldwide, today announced that it is actively reaching out to U.S. elected officials to address the need for a comprehensive National Manufacturing Strategy.

The effort is an outcome of a recent summit in Chicago, where the Council – composed of more than 100 manufacturing industry leaders – reached a consensus that to create the conditions for its manufacturers to compete in an increasingly complex global environment, the U.S. must have a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that centers on a combination of education, advocacy, and policy initiatives.

“The Council believes that it is imperative for the country to develop and implement a national manufacturing strategy that enhances the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers, supports innovation, stimulates exports, and enables economic growth through increased employment and wealth creation among manufacturers and the enterprises and institutions that benefit from their success,” said David R. Brousell, Vice President & Editorial Director at Manufacturing Executive, the parent organization of the Manufacturing Leadership Council.

Specifically, the Council states that it is urgent that manufacturers, policy-makers, educators, and labor leaders partner to create a national manufacturing strategy that:

* Provides education and skills development solutions that help educate tomorrow’s workforce and create relevant workers by using techniques such as experience-based learning models
* Advocates and promotes awareness of the importance of manufacturing to national security, prosperity, and innovation; the opportunities and impediments facing manufacturers; and the use of new technologies to make manufacturing more competitive
* Creates a manufacturing-friendly environment by developing much-needed reforms in torts, as well as in tax policy, regulatory policy, immigration policy, energy policy, and trade policy. There must also be greater support for STEM (science, technology, and math) education.

“This is an issue critical to the health of the American economy and the prospects of all Americans,” Brousell explained. “As such, we are actively reaching out to elected officials, as well as spreading our agenda to the media and public at large. We have begun receiving positive responses from governors, members of the Senate, and Cabinet officials, and we’re calling upon manufacturing leaders to join us in advancing this issue.”

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In light of the growth of e-commerce-and the fact that consumers and businesses are buying again, many of the discussions that we had at ProMat 2015 didn't revolve around the products and the equipment on display as much as it did the supplemental technology and solutions that are designed to optimize systems in an effort to work "smarter."